Egypt: Egypt sentences ex-governor to 10 years for bribery

An Egyptian court has sentenced a former governor to 10 years in prison for accepting bribes to award public works contracts.

In announcing the sentence Monday, the court said Hisham Abdel Basset accepted some $1.5 million in bribes while serving as governor of Menoufiya province, 60 kilometers (40 miles) north of Cairo. He was fined 15 million Egyptian pounds ($840,000).

The schemes involved several proposed construction and IT contracts with Egyptian businessman Essam Ahmed Fathi, who was cleared of all charges.